ACUTE RENAL AND HEPATIC-EFFECTS INDUCED BY 3-HALOANILINES IN THE FISCHER-344 RAT

Haloanilines are commonly used as chemical intermediates in the manufa cture of a wide range of products. The purpose of this study was to ex amine the in vivo nephrotoxic and hepatotoxic potentials of the 3-halo anilines. The in vitro effects of the 3-haloanilines on renal function were also examined. In the in vivo experiments, male Fischer 344 rats (four rats/group) were administered a single intraperitoneal (i.p.) i njection of an aniline hydrochloride (1.0 or 1.25 mmol kg(-1)) or vehi cle. Renal and hepatic function were monitored at 24 and/or 48 h post- treatment. None of the 3-haloanilines were potent nephrotoxicants at e ither dose level. The greatest effects on renal function were observed following administration of 3-chloroaniline at a dose of 1.25 mmol kg (-1) (oliguria, glucosuria, hematuria, decreased p-aminohippurate accu mulation by renal cortical slices and increased blood urea nitrogen co ncentration). 3-Chloroaniline also was the only aniline compound to in crease plasma ALT/GPT activity at 48 h. In the in vitro experiments, t he ability of an aniline (10(-5)-10(-3)M) to decrease organic ion accu mulation in renal cortical slices from untreated rats was examined. Th e decreasing order of in vitro nephrotoxic potential was 3-iodoaniline > 3-bromoaniline > 3-chloroaniline > aniline > 3-fluoroaniline. These results indicate that the 3-haloanilines are not potent nephrotoxican ts or hepatotoxicants at sublethal doses. In addition, the reasons why the 3-haloanilines have different orders of nephrotoxic potential in vivo and in vitro are not clear at this time.